blending in with the locals - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

byler · 01-23-2005, 09:54 AM

I'm studying abroad for 6 or 7 months in Madrid, and my advisor here at school told me when I go over that I should try as best I can to blend in with the people in Spain, and then I'll minimize my chances of getting harassed or anything (esp. since I'm a woman, he said this is important). what kind of clothes are a no-no in Spain to take from the US (I'll be there from January until June if this helps). My advisor said no white sneakers, he said that screams tourist. But I don't know what else. I'm in a sorority so probably no hoodies with letters on them, no t-shirts with English on them, but I'm not sure what else. the way my style is, I have a lot of brightly colored bags, one in particular, is a bright green one I bought from the Gap, especially to take overseas as my travel bag, because it's big, with cargo pockets, lots of space, and very cute.

Anyway, any advice?

Thanks!
Byler

**pinion** · 01-23-2005, 12:46 PM

In my opinion even if you "wore what the locals wore" you're still going to stick out. Usually when you're in a different country locals have a way of telling who is a tourist.

Just try your best to keep your map out of view & I'm sure you'll be fine

skorch · 01-23-2005, 03:14 PM

Check out this for information on local clothing customs.

http://www.journeywoman.com/ccc/ccc-s.html

I've been wondering myself if its better to shop locally for clothes as you need them while on a long trip.. but then again is it more dorky to be a pastey white dude in local clothes? It would definately let you travel lighter since once you leave a reagion, you can just ditch it if you want.

byler · 01-23-2005, 07:39 PM

I got slightly confused by the website, on one hand they said Spanish women were very stylish but on the other hand it said they wore a lot og black... ugh. I'm a bright color kinda girl but don't want to sick out like a sore thumb.

byler · 01-23-2005, 07:46 PM

I'll be living with a Spanish family so I guess I could figure it out from them...

**omisan** · 01-24-2005, 12:38 AM

What I noticed in Spain is that the women follow trends like there's no tomorrow... so just travel light and get whatever's "in" when you get there. Just avoid the mullet. Waaaay too many of those around last summer, and I'm hoping that trend has passed.

I noticed the Spanish are very stylish, but it's a laid back, comfortable thing - as opposed to the Parisian thing of wearing sharp, expensive outfits, they seem to go with trendy, affordable stuff that suits the current flavor of the month. A day of shopping at Zara will probably have you looking like a local quickly enough.

**voyd** · 01-24-2005, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by omisan@Jan 24 2005, 02:38 AM
I noticed the Spanish are very stylish, but it's a laid back, comfortable thing

That's kinda what I noticed - but I'm sure you can always ask Tony's girlfriend for more tips or pics of locals to go by.

byler · 01-24-2005, 07:23 PM

this has been very helpful, thanks so much! if you guys know of any websites I could go to, that'd be awesome!